Asbury Park Food Crawl: Part II

September 3, 2016

Welcome back! I know that this post is longggg overdue. My husband and I were traveling in France for two weeks, life and work gets in the way, etc etc. I am so happy to pick up where I left off with the most delicious food tour/photography workshop with Heirloom Kitchen & Michael Persico. The workshop started in Asbury Park with Cafe Volan and Cardinal Provisions. I certainly did not know how the day could get any better after our first two stops, and once again my expectations were blown away!

If you are just joining me, you can catch up on Part I of the Asbury Park food tour here.

Let’s dive right into the delicious visits we had the rest of our afternoon.

Our third stop on our food crawl was Barrio Costero, a new coastal Mexican restaurant. “Barrio Costero” translates to “coastal neighborhood” – driving home the unique vibe and branding of this new restaurant. When I first walked in, I was blown away by the sleek, modern & unique decor. The bar is large and a great place to grab a unique cocktail and chat over drinks.

If you never thought that Mexican cuisine could be refreshing, then you definitely need to check out Barrio Costero! My personal favorites were the Tenderloin “Al Pastor” – basically the best pork you will ever eat, and the Pulpo – delicious octopus! Not only were these dishes some of the best I had ever devoured, but they are visually stunning as well.

Pascal & Sabine had a completely different vibe from our previous stops on the photography tour and provided a very unique dining experience. I would describe Pascal & Sabine as more “moody” and perfect for a romantic date with your partner. The experience you will have at this brasserie is very unique and intimate. I personally loved the charcuterie sampling and the moules frites!

There’s more than meets the eye at the Bonney Read! When we arrived, executive chef & partner James Avery taught us about the origin of the name, Bonney Read, and gave us some great information on how they sustainably source local seafood!

Visually, the Bonney Read has an open floor plan, with really charming details. I really loved that you can watch fresh clams and oysters being set up and shucked. The bar is huge, with a lot of space to gather and enjoy a drink. I personally loved the Spanish Octopus (pictured below) – Chorizo hash + lemon saffron aioli + potatoes!

Since our first visit, we have already gone back to enjoy the raw bar + an epic bloody mary!

Even though we were stuffed to the max – Talula’s made it easy to indulge in more delicious food! What I really loved about Talula’s was that every single part of their menu was credited to local farms and/or businesses. I truly cannot think of any other establishment I have visited that is as eager to raise awareness and spread knowledge about where their food comes from. If only all restaurants could do this!

I really, really, really enjoyed our time at Talula’s. This was the perfect place to bring friends & family. I can see us going back there again and again – we have already gone back!

The decor is super charming – from the chairs, to the plants, to the exposed brick – every corner of Talula’s is quaint and charming.

All in all, I cannot express enough how much I loved Talula’s! They offer more than just pizza – their hand crafted pies, delicious ice cream, refreshing drinks & amazing staff are more than enough reasons to frequent Talula’s. Tabula’s has a magical spirit – you can tell that there is a huge sense of community within the restaurant and the people that work there, all pieces of a puzzle that will leave you with a memorable experience.

If this doesn’t make you want to eat vegetables – I don’t know what will! Everything was magnificent. Thank you so much for having us and special thank you, again, to Neilly from Heirloom Kitchen and Michael Persico, for organizing such a wonderful event! I had an unforgettable experience and have been raving about every stop we made ever since!

I hope you enjoyed the experiences I have shared in the last few posts. Each stop we made along the way made a thoughtful impression on me and further drives my passion to spread the word about wonderful local eateries, businesses and farms!

Coming up next, a private tour of my friend’s herb farm in New Hope, PA!
Until then –

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Welcome! My name is Kimber and I am a wife, foodie, and hand embroidery designer. I am passionate about creating delicious meals with fresh ingredients, supporting local eateries, and spreading my passion for both with everyone. I hope you will gather with me here and enjoy the recipes, experiences, and stories I share with you. You may even learn something along the way!